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So, I'm here with you all today to talk about my probationary period as a new player. I know you all wanted to see something of my playstyle and the things I cared about in practice before you let me have any serious characters at the table.
I've just completed my introductory campaign from levels 1-5. How would you say we're doing so far? Anything about my play I could improve?
"I already told Hayat to knock it off, didn't I?" Fahim's face is the picture of innocence.
"We're not married, no, but we're clan. The term is usually translated as sister or brother, but, well. It's a poor translation. It's... someone who is family because of a romantic attachment, you might say. Some people translate it as lover but that tends to be taken very shallowly by non-shemtej, as a purely physical relationship. I might say she's my intimate; that's perhaps the best translation. We look out for each other. We're close. We care for each other. I see no reason why that should have to be a... possessive relationship."
"They're raised comunnally, when they happen. As for how we avoid having many of them..."
He smirks. "We get creative."
"Zamir," Fayruz says delicately. "Do you actually know what causes a child?"
"... I see." Fayruz sighs. "How to say this delicately... No, it's a lost cause. If the man refrains from planting his seed within the woman, and takes care to spend himself elsewhere through other methods, the chance of a child is low. It is best not to... even go to the planting ground, so to speak... but even so long as one retreats from it, it is possible to have sex without guaranteeing a child."
*The withdrawal method of contraception has about a 1 in 5 chance of resulting in a baby per year with typical use. In other words, it's 80% effective. If you don't use any method, you have a 4 in 5 chance of having a baby per year. In other words, shemtej practicing a similar level of abstinence to Osirian men will have roughly 1/4 the children per year due to their better background level of sexual education. Given that shemtej also culturally practice bisexuality and various alternate forms of sexual gratification than PIV sex, I think it's justifiable that they genuinely have less children than your typical Osirian.
"I... see." Zamir seems to think his soup is the most interesting thing in the world.
"Anyway," Layla says. "That's quite enough sex talk. I know we're all falling over ourselves to catch Zamir up to how caravan life works, but hospitality first."
She takes a deep drink of her soup.
"It won't be much longer to Kalit. Anything you all are hoping to do when we get there?"
"I've heard they have good stories there. Perhaps you could storytell again. Something new, shared with the townsfolk."
"It has been a while, hasn't it. Good thought. Rana might even dance again. We could even do a troupe performance, bring in a little coin."
"Rana and Yasmin can dance all they want, I'm not budging from my cookpot. Dancing is for younger people than I."
"I could dance, perhaps. I'm no talent at it like Rana is, but I can manage the basics."
He shakes his head. "No, not really. Though... if you wanted to tell a story, I wouldn't mind hearing it."
"Of course. We'll see how things go." Layla takes another big gulp of her soup, drinking straight from the wooden bowl.
"Mmm. That's good. Alright, I should probably see about starting to break camp... Tell Baqir and Rana to hurry up, at least." She stretches and hands her bowl to Fayruz.
"Hospitality," she says to Zamir. "And welcome to the caravan proper. You're welcome by the fire anytime."
Then she gets up, and goes to check on her sister.
It's a quiet week to Kalit, overall. Baqir and Rana seem to have settled things, and Baqir continues to be civil at mealtimes - if a bit more quiet.
About four days in...
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